About the SunWise Program

To promote sun-safe behavior at an early age, the U.S. Environmental 

Protection Agency (EPA) developed the SunWise Program, a free 

national environmental and health education program for children. 

Through the use of classroom, school, and community components, 

SunWise promotes sun safety by teaching children and their caregivers 

how to protect themselves from overexposure to ultraviolet 

(UV) radiation.

The program is designed for kindergarten through eighth-grade 

learning levels. Any K-8 school can participate.

By joining EPA’s SunWise Program, participants will have access to 

useful tools to help teach sun-safe behaviors in the classroom, such as:

• The SunWise Tool Kit — providing a range of cross-curricular 

lessons, activities, and background information for K-8 children.

• The SunWise Internet Learning Site (www.epa.gov/sunwise) — 

an interactive medium with web-based educational activities and 

resources.

• Additional materials, puzzles, posters, and activities, such as the 

“Mission SunWise” storybook and activity book.

Register today to receive your free SunWise Tool Kit by 

visiting www.epa.gov/sunwise.
1

“Welcome to the SunWise Club,” said Amy.

“Everybody, meet Carlos and Lisa. They’re new to the neighborhood. 

They want to join our club,” said Kelly. 

“They heard the SunWise Club has fun being sun safe,” said Erin. 

“We do have fun! We have secret missions and adventures,” said Brian. 

“When we finish a mission we get awesome rewards.”

“What’s our secret mission for today?” asked Sam.

“Today our mission is to help Carlos and Lisa become SunWise. 

When they’re SunWise, we’ll get our prize!” said Amy. 
“Why should I be SunWise?” asked Lisa. 

“The sun is a star,” said Kelly. “It does many good things that help 

plants and animals on Earth.”

“The sun gives light so we can see, it keeps us warm, and it helps 

plants grow.”

“Even though we need the sun, sometimes too much sunlight can be 

bad for people.”

“We must protect ourselves from special rays of the sun called 

ULTRAVIOLET RAYS. Ultraviolet rays are also called UV RAYS.”

2
3

“That’s right!” said Amy, “You can’t see or feel UV rays, but they are there, 

even on cloudy days. UV rays can hurt your skin and eyes. It doesn’t matter 

if your skin is light or dark. UV rays can cause you harm.”

“The sky has a built-in shield called the OZONE LAYER. The ozone layer 

keeps most of the UV rays from reaching the Earth. It is like an umbrella 

that blocks the rain. The ozone layer does not stop ALL the UV rays from 

reaching you. That’s why it is important that we protect ourselves and be 

SunWise.” 

“UV rays are strongest in the middle of the day. It’s a good idea to stay out 

of the sun during that time if you can – ESPECIALLY if you’re not 

SunWise.”
4

“OK,” Carlos said, “Now I know WHY I need sun protection. But what can 

I do to be SunWise? How can I protect myself from UV rays?” 

“It’s easy!” said Kelly. You just need to remember to SLIP! SLOP! SLAP!

and WRAP!,TM CHECK the UV INDEX! and PLAY in the SHADE!” 

“SLIP on a shirt. 

Wear a long-sleeve 

shirt and pants to 

cover as much skin 

on your body as you 

can,” said Amy.

“SLOP on a 

sunscreen of at least 

SPF 15. Spread it on 

your face, arms, legs, 

and any other skin 

that the sun’s UV 

rays can reach,” said 

Sam. “Remember to 

reapply.”

“SLAP on the right 

kind of hat. A good 

hat will keep UV 

rays from reaching 

your face, ears, and 

back of your neck,” 

said Brian.
5

“For each SunWise step you take, 

you earn a badge. If you earn 

enough badges, you can join our 

club,” said Kelly. “We’ll help you!”

“WRAP on some 

sunglasses. 

Sunglasses protect 

your eyes,” said 

Kelly.

“CHECK the UV 

INDEX. We’ll show 

you how! The UV 

Index will tell you 

how strong the UV 

rays are,” said Sam.

“And PLAY in the

SHADE. If you’re 

in the shade, you’re 

protected from some 

of the UV rays,” said 

Erin.
6

“Before we go outside, it’s important to CHECK the UV Index,” said Brian.

“What’s the UV Index?” asked Lisa.

“The UV Index is a prediction of 

how strong the UV rays will be,” 

said Amy. “Just like we can check 

to see if it is going to rain or snow, 

we can check the forecast for UV 

rays. The UV Index is reported on 

a scale of 1-11+. The higher the 

number, the stronger the UV rays 

reaching Earth, and the more sun 

protection we need.” 

UV Index

Index Number Exposure Level

2 or Less Low

3–5

6–7 High

8–10 Very High

11+ Extreme

The higher the UV Index, the more 

important it is to be SunWise.

“You can find the UV Index 

in many places. It’s in the 

weather section of the 

newspaper and on TV and 

radio weather reports. You 

can also find it on the 

SunWise website at 

www.epa.gov/sunwise.” 

“You can earn a SunWise 

badge by CHECKING the 

UV Index every day,” Brian 

added.
7

“How’s this?” Carlos asked. “Is this SunWise?” 

“That’s OK,” said Amy, “but THIS ONE is better.” 

Remember, cover as much skin as possible to be SunWise. What other 

clothes are the most SunWise?
8

“Time to SLOP on some sunscreen,” said Kelly. 

“Here’s some! This is what my mom uses. What does this number ‘15’ 

mean?” asked Lisa. 

“The numbers tell you how much protection that sunscreen will give you,” 

Sam said. “You should always use number 15 or higher. SLOPPING on 

sunscreen will help protect your skin from UV rays. Remember to SLOP

on a lot and reapply it often.”
9

“Time to SLAP on a hat and WRAP on some sunglasses. Which hat should I 

wear?” asked Carlos. 

“Pick one that blocks the most sun from your head, face, and neck,” said Kelly.

Which hat do YOU think is the most SunWise?
10

“When you are outside, try to PLAY in the SHADE,” said Sam.

“You know one way to tell when the sun’s rays are strong?” Kelly asked. “It’s 

when your shadow is shorter than your body.” 

“Can you find the shady places in this picture?” asked Erin. “You can earn a 

badge by finding all the shady places to play.”
11

“OK, Lisa and Carlos, how SunWise are you? How many badges have you 

earned?” asked Brian. 

“We each earned SIX badges!” said Lisa.

 “We SLIPPED on long shirts and pants,

 We SLOPPED on sunscreen,

 We SLAPPED on good hats, 

 We WRAPPED on some sunglasses,

 We CHECKED the UV INDEX, and

 We PLAYED in the SHADE.”

“We’re sun safe and SunWise now,” said Carlos.

“AND we completed our Secret Mission!” said Amy. “I wonder what our prize is?”
12

“A trip to the amusement park! That’s our prize!” said Amy.

“Welcome to the SunWise Club, Lisa and Carlos!” said Erin.

“Thanks!” said Lisa and Carlos, together.

“Everyone can join the SunWise Club. You just have to learn to be 

SunWise,” said Brian.

“Remember: Slip! Slop! Slap! Wrap!,TM Check the UV Index, and Play in 

the Shade!” said Sam.
The SunWise Program would like to thank the American Cancer Society for their ongoing support 

and for allowing us to use their “SLIP! SLOP! SLAP! WRAP!”TM slogan.

SLIP! SLOP! SLAP! WRAP!TM is a trademark of the American Cancer Society, Inc.
The sunis a star that helps plants and 

animals on Earth. It gives us light so we can see, 

it keeps us warm, and it helps plants grow. We 

need the sun, but too much sunlight can be bad 

for people.

This book introduces young children to basic concepts about the sun and sun safety. Students will 

enjoy following members of the SunWise Club as they show their friends basic steps they should 

take to practice SunWise behavior. 

Mission SunWise! and the accompanying Coloring and Activity Book are part of the 

Environmental Protection Agency’s free SunWise Program. For more information on SunWise, 

visit our Web site at www.epa.gov/sunwise.

United States

Environmental Protection 

Agency

Office of Air and 

Radiation (6205J)

EPA 430-K-09-003

April 2010

www.epa.gov/sunwise